WPT Legends of Poker Attendance Shows Effects of Economy

The World Poker Tour is celebrating the new television deal that it recently signed with Fox Sports Net. It figured that it would ride that momentum into record numbers for the Legends of Poker tournament that began over the weekend.

No such luck for the WPT. This years tournament is down considerably from last year, and the economy could have much to do with the decrease in players.

Only 373 players entered the tournament this year. That number is twenty three percent lower than in the previous year. 485 players participated last year.

The winner of this year's tournament will see the effects of the lighter field. The first place prize is only $1.1 million, down $500,000 from the money that Dan Harrington won last year when he defeated David Pham.

Early on in the tournament, Ali Eslami is the chip leader after the first day, which was actually split into two separate days. He had 158,525 chips. Adam Weinraub was second with 154,750.

Phil Ivey appeared to be in a rush on the tournaments first day. He entered the tournament, but just thirty minutes into the day, he went all in without looking at his cards. He lost the hand and quickly exited the tournament.

August 25, 2008
Posted By Vincent Tapoglia III
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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